Igto] STOCK BERGER—TOXIC SOLUTIONS AND MITOSIS 421 
enlarged nuclear area surrounded by cytoplasm of a darker hue. 
Here also the cytoplasm usually contained small vacuoles, but neither 
amitosis nor abnormal division figures occurred. The general course 
of events under the action of the phenol seems to be the progressive 
decline of the cell functions, beginning in the most active and labile 
regions of the cytoplasm. The visible form changes are confined 
almost entirely to the enlargement of the nuclear area and the forma- 
tion of numerous small vacuoles in the cytoplasm. The abnormali- 
ties due to the action of phenol are clearly differentiated from those 
occurring in the distilled water controls as previously described. 
The sphagnum controls were normal as usual. 
THE EFFECT OF STRYCHNIN SULFATE 
The preparation of the solution of strychnin sulfate and the 
manipulation of the material accorded closely with the plan pursued 
with the phenol. Five strengths of solution were used, which for 
convenience in comparison are expressed approximately in terms 
of percentage solutions, viz., 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.1, and o.or per cent. 
In the first group of experiments the radicles were exposed to the 
constant action of the several solutions for intervals of 3, 6, and 24 
hours. In the second group the root tips were treated with the various 
dilutions for ten minutes, and were then transferred to distilled water 
for the time intervals mentioned above. The usual controls were 
Carried in sphagnum and in distilled water. 
The x per cent solution was allowed to act on radicles for three 
hours. The tips were then a dull white color and had become 
flaccid. The cells were all plasmolyzed, and in the outer layers they 
were disintegrating. 
From the external appearance after three hours’ immersion in the 
©.5 per cent solution death was inferred. However, in plerome 
and inner periblem a few nuclei were dividing. The outer cells were 
plasmolyzed and the cell walls were breaking down. In the inner 
cells the few scattered spireme nuclei and chromatic figures retained 
their normal shape and orientation in the presence of large vacuoles, 
one or more of which frequently occurred in the cytoplasm of these 
ells, 
After three hours in the o. 25 per cent solution there were no mitoses. 
